An Unexpected Honor
A short time ago, I received an text with an invitation. A gentleman- who I do not know- from Texas named Bear Mills, after a trip to Kentucky to learn more about the Second Great Awakening, discovered the book, “A Table in the Frontier”. After reading it, he initiated contact with me and suggested something that I would never have even thought about in my wildest dreams. He asked if he could interview me for his podcast, The Bear Mills Podcast. It was an unexpected honor to be given the opportunity to speak about a subject that I have both researched and loved for years.
The text made way for a call that I thoroughly enjoyed, and turned out to be much like many of the people I have met since writing the book. In our short conversation, I felt like I had known Bear for years, even though that was the very first time I had heard his voice. I was struck by what we had in common: a love for Jesus and a passion to know about the places where Heaven has touched Earth over the generations in revivals and awakenings.
What came from that conversation and the resulting interview was the opportunity for me to think through and examine some things I believe I have learned in the process of all of the research, reading the first-hand accounts from that time period (1798-1805), and committing those to paper. His questions were amazing and thought-provoking, and it took me days- and a myriad of attempts- to answer them.
This past Tuesday (4/18/23), I received word from Bear that the podcast was released and was titled “Hungry for Revival”, which would describe not only him and me, but thousands of people in both America and all over the world. I was additionally honored in that he included my personal testimony of encountering Jesus. I feel like the podcast he released is inspired as it contains not only the interview, but his thoughts from his own research, and the research of others.
I am not in any way setting forth myself as an expert in this subject, as I include the link to his interview. But, I am happy to do so with the prayer that many hungry people, would both discover a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and continue to press into to Him for an intimate relationship with Him that will transform every area of our lives. Revival and awakening are not events, but a result of personally encountering a Person. I want to love Jesus with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength, and my prayer for myself is that I would return in whatever way I may have departed from Him, to a comprehensive and complete first love kind-of-love with Him who is altogether lovely. In Him alone is life, and in Him is the only hope of genuine transformation in any of our lives. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are becoming new.” Yes, Lord. Please continue that process of maturity in me. Jesus is my only hope. The best I can do is a self-improvement project that does not produce any lasting change. Believe me, I have tried. What I have discovered is that His work is eternal and comprehensive. He alone can make all things new. He alone can give a new heart. He alone can forgive. He alone is the source of anything good and lasting and true. To Him be the glory forever and ever!
If I knew what I was doing, I could probably add the podcast in an easily accessible way. But, I am not all that technical, so I will just do it in the only way I know. If you have an interest in listening to the podcast by Bear Mills, go to https://www.authorbearmills.com/ and click on the word Podcast in the menu. You should discover the 4/19/2023 podcast titled, “Hungry for Revival”. I know it is available also on Apple Podcast, and some other sites, but unfortunately knowing how to do that is above my pay grade, and also my technical capabilities!
So, I conclude with praise to the Lord for the occasion of what- for me- has been pure joy, and a heartfelt thank you to Bear Mills for giving me this opportunity!